Storage unit for compact discs

ABSTRACT

A compact disc storage system is provided including a plurality of compact disc housings each including a bottom portion and a top portion pivotally coupled thereto. A multiple compact disc housing storage unit includes an elongated strip. A front face of the strip has a plurality of slots adapted for receiving an inboard edge of the bottom portion of the compact disc housing so as to allow the top portion of the compact disc housing to pivot with respect to the bottom portion for allowing access to a compact disc located inside the compact disc housing Each slot is defined by a pair of slot-defining members integrally coupled to the front face of the strip in a spaced parallel relationship and extending perpendicularly with respect to the strip.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a-continuation-in-part of our United States utilityapplication filed on Oct. 28, 1999 and assigned application Ser. No.09/428,858.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to compact disc storage systems and moreparticularly pertains to a new storage unit for compact discs forstoring compact disc housings such that they may be opened for access tothe compact disc while the housing remains mounted on the storage unitalong with other compact disc housings mounted on the storage unit.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of compact disc storage systems is known in the prior art. Morespecifically, compact disc storage systems heretofore devised andutilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected andobvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designsencompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for thefulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

Known prior art compact disc storage systems include U.S. Pat. No.5,027,955; U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,135; U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,893; U.S. Pat.No. 5,027,960; U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,960; and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 249,035.

In these respects, the storage unit for compact discs according to thepresent invention substantially departs from the conventional conceptsand designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatusprimarily developed for the purpose of storing compact disc housingssuch that they may be opened for access to the compact disc while thehousing remains mounted on the storage unit along with other compactdisc housings mounted on the storage unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofcompact disc storage systems now present in the prior art, the presentinvention provides a new storage unit for compact discs constructionwherein the same can be utilized for storing compact disc housings suchthat they may be opened for access to the compact disc while the housingremains mounted on the storage unit along with other compact dischousings mounted on the storage unit.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new storage unit forcompact discs apparatus and method which has many of the advantages ofthe compact disc storage systems mentioned heretofore and many novelfeatures that result in a new storage unit for compact discs which isnot anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any ofthe prior art compact disc storage systems, either alone or in anycombination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a multiplecompact disc housing storage unit including an elongated strip having arectangular configuration. The storage unit has a front surface, a rearsurface, and a periphery formed therebetween. The periphery is definedby a pair of long linear parallel side edges and a pair of short linearparallel end edges that preferably have a trapezoidal cross section. Thefront face has a plurality of slots each defined by a pair of thinplanar rectangular members integrally coupled to the front face of thestrip in a spaced parallel relationship. The slot-defining membersextend between the long linear parallel side edges.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additionalfeatures of the invention that will be described hereinafter and whichwill form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application. The abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a newstorage unit for compact discs apparatus and method which has many ofthe advantages of the compact disc storage systems mentioned heretoforeand many novel features that result in a new storage unit for compactdiscs which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or evenimplied by any of the prior art compact disc storage systems, eitheralone or in any combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new storageunit for compact discs that may be easily and efficiently manufacturedand marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new storageunit that is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a newstorage unit for compact discs which is susceptible of a low cost ofmanufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and whichaccordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consumingpublic, thereby making such storage unit for compact discs economicallyavailable to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newstorage unit for compact discs which provides in the apparatuses andmethods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, whilesimultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associatedtherewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a newstorage unit for compact discs for storing compact disc housings suchthat they may be opened for access to the compact disc while the housingremains mounted on the storage unit along with other compact dischousings mounted on the storage unit.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a newstorage unit for compact discs that includes a plurality of compact dischousings each including a bottom portion and a top portion pivotallycoupled thereto. A multiple compact disc housing storage unit includesan elongated strip. A front face of the strip has a plurality of slotseach defined by a pair of thin planar members integrally coupled to thefront face of the strip in a spaced parallel relationship.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a compact disc housing, or jewelcase, suitable for use with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the storage unit of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the storage unit of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the storage unit of the presentinvention in relation to a pair of compact disc jewel cases.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an optional coupling structurefor connecting a pair of storage units of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the coupling structure ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic rear view of the storage unit of the presentinvention with a compact disc jewel case mounted thereon.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a compact disc jewel case.

FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of the top portion of a compact discjewel case.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of the bottom portion of a compact discjewel case.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through10 thereof, a new storage unit for compact discs embodying theprinciples and concepts of the present invention will be described.

The compact disc storage unit of the present invention is highlysuitable for use with compact disc storage housings, commonly referredto as compact disc jewel cases, which have a substantially standard sizeand shape from one case source to another case source. Each compact discjewel case 12 includes a bottom portion 14 and a top, or cover, portion16 that is pivotally mounted on the bottom portion.

The bottom portion 14 of the jewel case has an inboard edge 32, anoutboard edge 33, and a pair of side edges 34, 35 extending between theinboard and outboard edges. The top portion is mounted on the bottomportion at a location adjacent to the inboard edge of the bottomportion. The inboard edge 32 of the bottom portion of the jewel case hasa standard width of approximately 1 cm. The bottom portion of the jewelcase has a hinge portion 17 located adjacent to the inboard edge. Thehinge portion has a standard width extending inwardly from the inboardedge approximately 1.2 cm, and the hinge portion 17 has a standardlength of approximately 12 cm between the side edges of the bottomportion. The hinge portion has a standard thickness of approximately 1cm, which corresponds to the width of the inboard edge of the bottomportion.

The top portion 16 of the jewel case has an inboard edge 36, an outboardedge 37, and a pair of side edges 38, 39 extending between the inboardand outboard edges. The top portion has a pair of arms 18, 19 extendingoutwardly from the inboard edge of the top portion in a substantiallyparallel relationship to form a gap therebetween. The standard distancebetween the arms, and thus the standard size of the gap, isapproximately 12 cm. The arms 18, 19 are oriented substantially parallelto the side edges, and are in a substantially coplanar relationship withthe side edges. The side edges of the bottom portion at the hingeportion of the bottom portion are positioned between the arms. Each ofthe arms is rotatably mounted on one side edge of the side edges of thebottom portion adjacent to the inboard edge thereof, with each of thearms being positioned at an end of the hinge portion.

The multiple compact disc housing storage unit 20 includes an elongatedstrip 22 that may have a substantially rectangular configuration. Thestorage unit has a front surface 23, a rear surface 21, and a peripheryformed therebetween. The periphery is defined by a pair of long linearparallel side edges 24, 25 and a pair of short linear parallel end edges26. The end edges may have a trapezoidal cross-section for forming acoupling structure.

The front surface 23 of the elongated strip has a plurality of slots 28.Each slot is defined by a pair of thin planar substantially rectangularmembers 30, 31 that are integrally coupled to and extend outwardly fromthe front surface of the strip in a spaced and substantially trapezoidalrelationship in which the inner faces of the slot-defining membersconverge slightly towards the free ends of the slot-defining members topermit relatively tight holding of the jewel case at the level of thehinge portion 17 of the bottom portion 14 of the jewel case. Optionally,the inner faces of the slot-defining members may be in a spaced andsubstantially parallel relationship which may reduce the holdingcapability of the slot-defining members somewhat. The slot definingmembers extend between the long linear parallel side edges 24, 25. Theslot-defining members may extend substantially perpendicular to thefront surface 23 of the strip 22.

In one embodiment of the invention, each pair of slot-defining members30, 31 is spaced from an adjacent pair of slot-defining members by adistance that permits the top portion of a jewel case held between onepair of slot-defining members to be pivoted from the bottom portion asufficient amount to permit removal of the disc from the jewel casewithout having to remove the jewel case from engagement with theslot-defining members. Illustratively, the spacing between adjacentpairs of slot-defining members is greater than twice the spacing betweenthe slot defining members of each pair. It is important-that the widthof the slot defining members between the side edges is less than (or atmost substantially the same as) the maximum width of the inboard edge ofthe bottom portion of the compact disc housings, which is standardizedat approximately 12 cm. This width limitation on the slot, and theslot-defining members 30, 31, permits the slot-defining members toembrace and grip the hinge portion of the bottom portion of the jewelcase without obstructing or otherwise hindering the pivoting of the armsof the top portion which would prevent the opening and closing of thetop portion with respect to the bottom portion while the jewel case ismounted on the strip. Further, it is highly preferable that the storageunit be constructed from a material that has some rigidity and butpermits some resilient flexibility such that the slot-defining members30, 31 are not spreadable apart from each other without some degree ofresistance from the slot-defining members to thereby permit the hingeportion of the jewel case to be lodged between the members in a mannerthat provides some resistance to removal of the jewel case from betweenthe slot-defining members once inserted therebetween. Optionally, thestorage unit may be constructed from materials of various colors.

During use, the inboard edge of the bottom portion of each compact dischousing may be removably inserted into one of the slots between themembers 30, 31 such that the compact disc housing is supported in asubstantially perpendicular relationship with the plane of the strip ofthe storage unit. Situated as such, the top portion of each compact dischousing is permitted to be pivoted upwardly to thereby allow access tothe compact disc held on the bottom portion between the top and bottomportions of the compact disc jewel case. It should be noted that thelimited flexibility of the storage unit 20 permits the storage unit tobe configured in either a linear or arcuate orientation.

As an option, a plurality of the strips may be provided each with anoutwardly extending lip 42 formed along a top and bottom edge thereof,as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Such lip preferably has a triangularcross-section. Associated therewith is an elongated coupling member 44with a top and bottom face each with a slot 46 formed therein forreleasably receiving the lips of strips such that the strips reside inlinear alignment. The thickness of the strip is approximately 4 mm. Thethickness of each of the slot-defining members is slightly greater than1 mm.

One highly preferred embodiment of the invention has a width between theside edges of approximately 12 cm. The length of the slot-definingmembers is also approximately 12 cm (but does not exceed 12 cm so thatthe slot defining members do not restrict the pivoting of the arms ofthe top portion of a jewel case mounted between the slot-definingmembers). The distance between the slot-defining members isapproximately 10 mm at the front surface 23 of the strip, and theslot-defining members converge slightly such that the distance betweenthe slot-defining members is approximately 8.5 mm such that theslot-defining members converge toward each other slightly. Insertion ofthe hinge portion of a jewel case between the pair of slot-definingmembers deflects the slot-defining members outwardly slightly so thatthe hinge portion is pinched or wedged between the slot-defining membersand hold the jewel case between the slot-defining members. The distancebetween adjacent pairs of slot-defining members is preferablyapproximately 2 cm to permit sufficient room between mounted jewel casesto permit pivoting of the top portions of the jewel case betweenadjacent mounted jewel cases.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

We claim:
 1. A compact disc storage system for removably holding aplurality of compact disc jewel cases each compact disc jewel caseincluding a bottom portion with an inboard edge, an outboard edge, and apair of side edges extending therebetween, the inboard edge of thebottom portion having a width of approximately 1 cm, the compact discjewel case having a hinge portion adjacent the inboard edge, the hingeportion having a width extending inwardly from the inboard edgeapproximately 1.2 cm, the hinge portion having a length of approximately12 cm, and each compact disc jewel case including a top portion with asquare configuration defined by an inboard edge, an outboard edge, and apair of side edges extending therebetween, the top portion having a pairof arms extending from the inboard edge, the arms being in asubstantially parallel relationship to form a gap therebetween, the armsbeing and in a substantially coplanar relationship with the side edges,the side edges of the bottom portion adjacent the inboard edge of thebottom portion being positioned between the arms, each of the arms beingrotatably mounted on one side edge of the side edges of the bottomportion adjacent the inboard edge thereof, the system comprising: amultiple compact disc jewel case storage unit including an elongatedstrip, the elongated strip having a pair of relatively longer side edgesand a pair of relatively shorter end edges, a front face of the striphaving a plurality of slots adapted for receiving an inboard edge of thebottom portion of a compact disc jewel case, each slot being defined bya pair of slot-defining members integrally coupled to the front face ofthe strip in a spaced parallel relationship, each of the slot-definingmembers having a length extending between the long linear parallel sideedges, each of the slot-defining members having a width extending fromthe front face of the strip to a free edge of the slot-defining member;wherein each pair of slot-defining members is adapted to grip an edgeportion of the compact disc jewel case while permitting the top portionof the jewel case gripped thereby to pivot with respect to the bottomportion of the jewel case; and wherein the width of each of theslot-defining members is less than the width of the hinge portion of thecompact disc jewel case and the length of each of the slot-definingmembers is less than the length of the hinge portion of the compact discjewel case for allowing the arms of the top portion of each compact discjewel case to pivot upwardly with respect to the bottom portion of thejewel case to allow access to a compact disc stored in the compact discjewel case while the hinge portion of the compact disc jewel case isreceived in the slot between one of the pair of slot-defining members.2. A compact disc storage system as set forth in claim 1 wherein thestrip is constructed from a resiliently flexible material.
 3. A compactdisc storage system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the slots isadapted such that an inboard edge of the bottom portion of each of thecompact disc housings may be removably lodged in the corresponding slotwith the compact disc jewel case being held in a substantiallyperpendicular relationship with the strip of the storage unit.
 4. Acompact disc storage system as set forth in claim 3 wherein adjacentpairs of slot-defining members are spaced from each other in a mannerpermitting pivoting of the top portion of each compact disc jewel casewith respect to the bottom portion of the compact disc jewel case whilecompact disc jewel cases are lodged in the slots of the adjacent pairsof slot-defining members.
 5. A compact disc storage system as set forthin claim 4 wherein a spacing between adjacent pairs of slot-definingmembers is approximately twice a spacing between slot-defining membersof one of the pairs of slot-defining members.
 6. A compact disc storagesystem for holding a plurality of standard compact disc jewel cases,each compact disc jewel case including a bottom portion with an inboardedge, an outboard edge, and a pair of side edges extending therebetween,the inboard edge of the bottom portion having a width of approximately 1cm, the compact disc jewel case having a hinge portion adjacent theinboard edge, the hinge portion having a width extending inwardly fromthe inboard edge approximately 1.2 cm, the hinge portion having a lengthof approximately 12 cm, and each compact disc jewel case including a topportion with a square configuration defined by an inboard edge, anoutboard edge, and a pair of side edges extending therebetween, the topportion having a pair of arms extending from the inboard edge, the armsbeing in a substantially parallel relationship to form a gaptherebetween, the arms being and in a substantially coplanarrelationship with the side edges, the side edges of the bottom portionadjacent the inboard edge of the bottom portion being positioned betweenthe arms, each of the arms being rotatably mounted on one side edge ofthe side edges of the bottom portion adjacent the inboard edge thereof,the storage system comprising: a compact disc jewel case storage unitincluding an elongated strip having a rectangular configuration with afront surface, a rear surface, and a periphery formed therebetween, theperiphery defined by a pair of long linear parallel side edges and apair of short linear parallel end edges having a triangularcross-section, the front face having a plurality of pairs ofslot-defining members, the slot-defining members being integrallycoupled to the front face of the strip, each pair of slot-definingmembers extending from the strip for defining a slot therebetween forreceiving the inboard edge of the bottom portion of the compact discjewel case, each of the slot-defining members having a length extendingbetween the long linear parallel side edges, each of the slot-definingmembers having a width extending from the front face of the strip to afree edge of the slot-defining member; wherein inner faces of theslot-defining members of each pair converge toward each other at freeends of the pair of slot-defining members such that the inboard edge ofeach of the compact disc housings may be removably lodged in thecorresponding slot such that the compact disc jewel case is held in asubstantially perpendicular relationship with respect to the strip ofthe storage unit; and wherein the width of each of the slot-definingmembers is less than the width of the hinge portion of the compact discjewel case and the length of each of the slot-defining members is lessthan the length of the hinge portion of the compact disc jewel case forallowing the arms of the top portion of each compact disc jewel case topivot upwardly with respect to the bottom portion of the jewel case toallow access to a compact disc stored in the compact disc jewel casewhile the hinge portion of the compact disc jewel case is received inthe slot between one of the pair of slot-defining members.
 7. The systemof claim 6 wherein the storage unit is constructed from a flexibleinelastic material.
 8. A compact disc storage system comprising, incombination: a plurality of standard compact disc jewel cases, eachcompact disc jewel case including a bottom portion with a rectangularconfiguration defined by an inboard edge, an outboard edge, and a pairof side edges. extending therebetween, the inboard edge of the bottomportion having a width of approximately 1 cm, the compact disc jewelcase having a hinge portion adjacent the inboard edge, the hinge portionhaving a width extending inwardly from the inboard edge approximately1.2 cm, the hinge portion having a length of approximately 12 cm, andeach compact disc jewel case including a top portion with a rectangularconfiguration defined by an inboard edge, an outboard edge, and a pairof side edges extending therebetween, the top portion having a pair ofarms extending from the inboard edge, the arms being in a substantiallyparallel relationship to form a gap therebetween, the arms being and ina substantially coplanar relationship with the side edges, the sideedges of the bottom portion adjacent the inboard edge of the bottomportion being positioned between the arms, each of the arms beingrotatably mounted on one side edge of the side edges of the bottomportion adjacent the inboard edge thereof; a multiple compact disc jewelcase storage unit, including an elongated strip having a rectangularconfiguration with a front surface, a rear surface, and a peripheryformed therebetween, the periphery defined by a pair of long linearparallel side edges and a pair of short linear parallel end edges havinga triangular cross-section, the front face having a plurality of pairsof thin planar rectangular slot-defining members, each pair ofslot-defining members defining a slot therebetween for receiving theinboard edge of the bottom portion of the compact disc jewel case, theslot-defining members being integrally coupled to the front face of thestrip, each of the slot-defining members having a length extendingbetween the long linear parallel side edges, each of the slot-definingmembers having a width extending from the front face of the strip to afree edge of the slot-defining member, the storage unit beingconstructed from a flexible inelastic material; wherein inner faces ofthe slot-defining members of each pair converge toward each other atfree ends of the pair of slot-defining members, a width of the slotsbetween adjacent slot-defining members is slightly less than the widthof the inboard edge of the bottom portion of the compact disc jewel casesuch that the inboard edge of each of the compact disc housings may beremovably lodged in the corresponding slot such that the compact discjewel case is held in a substantially perpendicular relationship withrespect to the strip of the storage unit; wherein the width of each ofthe slot-defining members is less than the width of the hinge portion ofthe compact disc jewel case and the length of each of the slot-definingmembers is less than the length of the hinge portion of the compact discjewel case for allowing the arms of the top portion of each compact discjewel case to pivot upwardly with respect to the bottom portion of thejewel case to allow access to a compact disc stored in the compact discjewel case while the hinge portion of the compact disc jewel case isreceived in the slot between one of the pair of slot-defining members.